Wildcats' 'Quick' spins familiar tale for Bears

Updated 11:53 pm, Saturday, March 2, 2013

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Kansas State forward Jordan Henriquez (21) dunks the ball as Angel Rodriguez (13) and Baylor guard A.J. Walton (22) watch in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Waco, Texas. Kansas State won 64-61. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Kansas State forward Jordan Henriquez (21) dunks the ball as Angel Rodriguez (13) and Baylor guard A.J. Walton (22) watch in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, March 2, 2013, in

WACO — Only a matter of inches separated Scott Drew from the kind of win that would have been a boon to his team's flagging NCAA tournament hopes.

After battling all night, the Bears had a chance to beat Kansas State on Saturday in the kind of victory that would have resonated with the bracketologists.

With the score tied and one second left, Drew elected to go for the win. He inserted Jacob Neubert into the game for the first time to attempt a length of the court pass to 7-foot-1 Isaiah Austin under the basket.

The call was ideal in theory, until the pass sailed over Austin's outstretched arms and out of bounds without being touched.

It gave KSU one more chance from under its own basket. Rodney McGruder nailed an open 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer to lift the Wildcats to a dramatic 64-61 victory, delivering a gut punch to the Bears' NCAA tournament hopes.

“It was a great game and a terrible ending for the Bears,” Drew said. “They made plays. We had to make plays, and we just came up one short.”

The ending was symbolic for the Bears (17-12, 8-8), who dropped to 1-7 this season in games settled by five points or less.

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“It gets old, the same thing over and over,” said Baylor guard Pierre Jackson, who notched team-high totals of 18 points and seven assists. “We played well. We just played against a real good team tonight. As y'all saw, they won by a hair.”

The No. 13 Wildcats (24-5, 13-3) won't be complaining too much. Their narrow triumph kept them locked in a first-place tie with Kansas with two regular-season games remaining.

“It was a great win for us,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said. “We kept telling the guys that we've had some pretty good margin victories, but sooner or later we were going to have to win a close one. Good fortune goes our way.”

After Baylor's botched final possession, K-State didn't hesitate to run their “Quick” play. Weber crafted it last summer during an Brazilian exhibition trip when he found his team continually struggling at the end of the shot clock.

“When I released it, it felt good,” said McGruder, who scored a team-high 18 points to keep alive the Wildcats' hopes of their first uncontested conference championship since winning the Big Eight in 1977.

Baylor must regroup in a difficult finish that will feature a game Monday at Texas before its regular-season finale Saturday against Kansas.

“I think it's real important that we have short-term memories,” Drew said. “Obviously, it's going to be hard sleeping tonight and it hurts like heck, but you've got to move on.”